MEDIA RELEASE

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ACS Welcomes NSW IT Ministry

Monday, 1 December 1997 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has welcomed moves by the NSW Government to form an Information Technology (IT) portfolio, to be held by Mr Kim Yeadon.

The new Ministry, announced as part of a Cabinet reshuffle by NSW Premier, Bob Carr, significantly raises the profile of IT as an industry requiring greater focus and attention.

"We are delighted with the Premier’s initiative, which has clearly developed from this Government’s stated and growing interest in the IT industry," said John Ridge, Chair of the ACS NSW Branch.

"As Patron of the NSW Branch of the ACS, Premier Carr has demonstrated strong support for the IT professional and industry. In addition, several of his Ministers have also been involved in IT-related activities, such as the Year 2000 seminar jointly staged in July this year by the ACS and State Government which attracted 800 people interested in the vexed question."

Mr Ridge said the Society would seek talks with the new Minister at the earliest opportunity and stood ready to assist the new Department in any way it could.

"We have been saying for some time that Governments all around Australia need to recognise the strategic importance of IT by creating specific Ministries. It is pleasing that several jurisdictions have now taken up the suggestion.

"With a greater proportion of Australia’s IT professionals, companies and major users located in NSW, it is critical that NSW, more than any other, has a clear focus on developing opportunities and creating the proper environment which encourages the industry to grow," he said.

"We congratulate Mr Yeadon on his new portfolio and look forward to working closely with him as he further defines the Government’s IT policies and strategies."

This media release is located on the Web at http://www.acs.org.au/news/nswmin.htm

ENDS

The Australian Computer Society is the professional society representing the needs and interests of professionals working in the IT industry. With 15,000 members located around Australia and overseas, the ACS is the largest per capita computer society in the world.

The Australian member of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) along with bodies like the US-based ACM and British Computer Society, the ACS and its members play an active role in technology R&D, the development of standards and in lobbying the Government on IT-related issues.

Media Enquiries:

John Ridge, ACS NSW Branch Chair, Tel: (02) 9247 9399 or (015) 913 500, Email: mra@mra.com.au

Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au